Colorado Rockies defeat Cincinnati Reds on Memorial Day behind Nolan Arenado

By Andrew Dill | May 25, 2015

The Colorado Rockies have started to play much better baseball of late, but one player that is starting to breakout of a slump is Nolan Arenado, and he is one reason Colorado defeated the Cincinnati Reds on Memorial Day, 5-4. Make that three-straight victories for the Rox.

Coming off a 4-for-5 performance against the San Francisco Giants Sunday afternoon, Nolan Arenado picked off where he left off — torching the ball. Colorado’s third baseman boosted his average up to .287 on the afternoon, going 3-for-4 including a two-out home run in the fourth inning off former Rockies’ pitcher Jason Marquis. Not only did Arenado provide the lumber, the Gold Glove third baseman made another spectacular play in the stands. These plays are almost starting to become routine and to no surprise to Rockies’ fans everywhere.

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Arenado started off the first inning with an RBI single to left, plating Charlie Blackmon who recorded a stolen base to get into scoring position. Not to mention, Blackmon nabbed three stolen bases on the afternoon, which ties a career-high. The Reds responded in the bottom half of the first off of Rockies’s starter Eddie Butler. After a one-out double from first basemen Joey Votto, Todd Frazier belted a two-run shot to straight-away center field.

Butler had a rough going of it early, but settled in nicely. The 24-year-old gave up nine hits over six innings of work, yielding four runs while walking two and striking out one. His counterpart, Jason Marquis, gave up 10 hits over 5.2 innings. Marquis let up four runs, two of which were earned while walking two and striking out four.

DJ LeMahieu tallied an RBI single in the second inning to push Colorado’s lead to one, while Nolan Arenado continued his hot-streak by hitting a solo-shot in the fourth to left.

The Reds’ came clawing back in the fourth after a Billy Hamilton single to center to score Marlon Byrd. Speaking of Marlon Byrd, the veteran outfielder belted an opposite field home run in the bottom half of the sixth to tie the game up at four apiece. Cincinnati elected to go with their closer, Aroldis Chapman, in a non-save situation in the top half of the ninth and Colorado managed to make the most out of it.

After a leadoff walk to Charlie Blackmon, DJ LeMahieu hit a bloop single down the right-field line to place runners on the corner with no one out. On the very first-pitch swinging, Nolan Arenado muscled a ball to center field as Billy Hamilton’s throw was on time, but just wide to the right to plate Blackmon. Chapman would work his way out of the inning, striking out Ben Paulsen and pinch-hitter Troy Tulowitzki.

John Axford came on to close the game out in the bottom half of the ninth and did just that. Axford issued a two-out walk to Todd Fraizer but got Jay Bruce to fly-out softly to Charlie Blackmon to cap a 5-4 victory.

The Colorado Rockies (18-25) resume their three-game set with the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday night as Jorge De La Rosa (1-2, 6.51 ERA) toes the rubber for Colorado. The Reds will counter with right-hander Michael Lorenzen (1-1, 3.79 ERA). First-pitch from Great American Ball Park is scheduled for 7:10 PM EST, 5:10 PM MST.

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